posted
Before we get into the question of this discussion, let's refrain from arguing over whether or not the series needs to end. I think we've all probably talked about that enough by now.
What I want to know is, do you think OSC will write another book in the series that involves Ender, much like he did with Ender in Exile? There certainly seems room for it, given that Ender spent decades wandering between worlds.
The idea to make more Ender books would make sense. They sell like crazy, of course, but there's also the upcoming film, which would push the sales even more. I'm not saying that money should be a prime motivator here, but it certainly seems like the next few years will be a great time (if there's ever going to be one) for another Ender story.
There's also the novelization of the Formic Wars, the two upcoming Shadow books, and the comics, which are fairly successful.
Personally, I'd love to see another book. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the main novels in the series, as well as Exile, War of Gifts, and First Meetings. The Shadow series is also fun, but I think we can all agree it isn't the same kind of story.
So what do you guys think? Has OSC mentioned expanding the series, other than the next two Shadow books? Do you think he will? I'm curious to see what you all think will happen.
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posted
Personally I'm not an Ender fan anymore. I really disliked the way he found his end. I thought it was anticlimactic, and just out of character for how I pictured Ender. I almost wanted him to take on a "Lazarus Long" sort of approach (A Heinlein character, props to anybody who knows it). Where he becomes immortalized to guide humanity forever through his writings and knowledge.
Instead he just wasted away and turned to dust suffering emotionally, trying to win back the love of his spiteful wife who left him. For that fact alone I just don't find Ender appealing anymore.
I'd rather see more development of Bean, his kids, the life of Achilles, Miro, Jane, the reborn Peter, or something along those lines.
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posted
Understandable, but also remember that Lazarus Long was also really into incest, too.
Personally, I didn't mind the way Ender went out. If you think about it, he became immortal through reincarnation, which is still pretty impressive.
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posted
I think Ender's "death" was pretty cool. He created and controlled two additional bodies in the same way that the Hive Queen did and was able to find peace within himself. Not too shabby if you ask me.
I think that it would be great to see more midquels. You're right, there's plenty of room for it. Certainly each planet has it's own story and some might be more novel worthy than others. Even a collection of short stories about several of Ender's planetside visits would be awesome.
I have to admit, the first time I read EinE, I wasn't 100% impressed. It was hard for me to jump back into the mindset that Ender was fresh out of Battle School. But recently I read Ender's Game again and took the time to read EinE again as well. The second time around I was thoroughly impressed.
This makes me think that any future Ender story might hit home a little better if, as OSC has stated about previous Speaker Series books, they could be read independently - without the need to read EVERY Enderverse book to grasp what's going on. (not that EinE was entirely like that.. but in some cases it was).
Personally, I hope that OSC will find more interest in Shadows Alive. Enough to make a new series out of it. I just feel that if it took 3 Shadow books to unite Earth then maybe we could see all these rich new characters develope (not to mention uniting the 100 Worlds) over 3 or 4 "Alive" Books. I LOVE New!Peter, Wang mu, Miro, Jane, and everyone else on Lusitania. I really look forward to getting to know Bean's kids and how they will interact with everyone else.
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quote:Originally posted by la.SOMA: Personally, I hope that OSC will find more interest in Shadows Alive. Enough to make a new series out of it. I just feel that if it took 3 Shadow books to unite Earth then maybe we could see all these rich new characters develope (not to mention uniting the 100 Worlds) over 3 or 4 "Alive" Books. I LOVE New!Peter, Wang mu, Miro, Jane, and everyone else on Lusitania. I really look forward to getting to know Bean's kids and how they will interact with everyone else.
I agree with this.
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posted
There is a huge span of time between when Ender leaves his first other world Planet in "Ender in Exile", some 3,000 years. And we know that many adventures occurred in that span of time. And we know that conflict could be invented that Ender would have to resolve.
But I also think the heart of Ender's story has been told. Now if the series goes on, it will be Peter and Wang Mu carrying the flag.
For them, the are countless conflicts that could make for new stories. Certainly Star Congress is not happy about the power that Peter now wields. He controls Faster Than Light Travel, he has the Piggies and the Buggers on his side. Even the existance of the Buggers has to be a huge threat to Star Congress. Further, Peter has the allegiance of a planet of geniuses, the people of Path, on his side. A group of people who do not hold Congress in the best of light. That makes Peter a formidable threat, and a formidable enemy.
No political group can or will stand by while anyone or anything threatens their power. That puts them at odds with Peter. Likely, they will want to capture and control Peter, or they will want to kill him. Yet, we see what happened the last time they tried to kill Peter, and the rest of the people on Lusitania. They were not that successful.
Any story needs a point of conflict for it to be interesting, and I can see many points of conflict in the lives of Peter and Wang Mu, but little of significance in the untold life of Ender.
Now CARD might come up with some small slice of life story about Ender in his travels that might be interesting. Something like the "Financial Advisor" from "First Meetings". But I just don't see any real novel length stories there. It is hard to be interested in a story when you know how it ends. Ender is dead. He died a cruel death. But Peter and Wang Mu live on, and that's where, and they have plenty of potential for conflict in their lives.
In my view, Ender's story has pretty much been told.
posted
I agree, S/bw. The potential is there but i think the flare would have to be found after careful consideration. I'd hate to see a series of Ender novels that are campy - "That darn Ender bested another adult/person of power!" - sort of thing.
A worthwhile approach might be to follow Ender as he crafts his skill as a Speaker. I'm sure gathering information for a few of the deaths he's spoken were challenging. For example, I always thought the story of him speaking for San Angelo (I believe that was his name) would be a good one.
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posted
San Angelo's story would be awesome, as would an expanded "getting to know Jane" story (starting with Investment Counselor, but expanding afterwards, since we don't see their relationship really move anywhere in the short story). Those could both be pretty solid novellas.
Otherwise, I'd like to see another trilogy of novels that follow Peter and friends afterwards. Maybe Peter follows in the shoes of the old Peter and becomes the Hegemon, except that since his personality is different, he gets to it a different way. There's plenty of meat, so to speak, in there for a great new series, especially when you factor in the Descalador (or however you spell it), which would serve as the new alien threat/mystery. I've always loved Card's aliens, so I'm certain he's capable of coming up with a great story.
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posted
I'd be happier with Orson Scott Card finding a way which rings true for him to end the series instead of make it a never ending flood of Ender stories. A good ending is more important to me than filling in all the gaps which could just as easily be left unfilled.
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posted
Truth be told, I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of Valentine + Jane jealousy thread (a precursor to Novinha in a way). Valentine is way too smart to not suspect something with the way Ender spends so much time talking to the computer.. so much that he had to have a jewel planted in his ear perhaps?
And when you really think about it, how well do we really know Jane and Ender's relationship before Ender turns off the jewel in his ear? Doesn't he turn off the jewel in chapter 3 of SftD?
Posts: 52 | Registered: Jun 2007
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quote:Originally posted by la.SOMA: Truth be told, I wouldn't mind seeing some sort of Valentine + Jane jealousy thread (a precursor to Novinha in a way). Valentine is way too smart to not suspect something with the way Ender spends so much time talking to the computer.. so much that he had to have a jewel planted in his ear perhaps?
And when you really think about it, how well do we really know Jane and Ender's relationship before Ender turns off the jewel in his ear? Doesn't he turn off the jewel in chapter 3 of SftD?
Yeah, something like that. I think you're right. An origin story that actually explores the two characters interacting and developing a real friendship would be nice. Investment Counselor was great, but it didn't spend the time to really show us how close the two characters got. There's a lot of character development somewhere in there and, if paired with an interesting plot, could make for a fun addition to the series. Perhaps if he combined it with the San Angelo speaking?
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posted
I think it'd be very possible to write stories within the Ender universe which are entirely new and don't draw on any of the original characters directly. There are many many many inhabited planets now. I think it'd be more interesting to follow the story as it progresses on an entirely different planet with no connection to Ender, Bean, or the planet Lusitania. A completely outside opinion of the events on Lusitania and the fleet launched against it would be a much more interesting read to me.
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